Pam Ayres brings poetry, laughter and life lessons to Newbury this November

The much-loved poet and performer visits Newbury Corn Exchange on 12 November with Doggedly Onward: A Life in Poems, 1970 to 2020s, celebrating more than five decades of wit, wisdom and unforgettable observations.

There are few things more reliably British than an evening with Pam Ayres. With her sharp observations, wonderfully wry humour, generous helping of nostalgia and underlying warmth, the much-loved poet and performer has been making audiences laugh for decades. This November, she returns to Newbury Corn Exchange with her latest collection, Doggedly Onward: A Life in Poems, 1970 to 2020s.

Taking place on Thursday, 12 November, the evening promises a journey through more than five decades of Pam’s life and work. From her early years as a young woman determined to forge her own path, through love, marriage and motherhood, to her present-day role as an “astounded, adoring granny”, the show reflects on the experiences that have shaped her.

Doggedly Onward brings together poetry from across Pam’s career in a beautifully illustrated volume, offering an affectionate and often hilarious look at life’s many twists and turns.

Alongside the laughter are poems about family, friendship, travel, wildlife and the much-loved dogs that have accompanied her through the years. More poignant themes also feature, including regret, loss, leaving the family home and the realities of growing older.

It is this blend of everyday observations and deeper reflections that has made Ayres such an enduring favourite. She has an uncanny ability to take something entirely ordinary – a domestic irritation, an ageing body, an animal’s antics or the small absurdities of modern life – and turn it into something both hilarious and surprisingly touching.

Her career began in the 1970s, when she stepped beyond conventional expectations to pursue writing and performance. Since then, she has travelled widely and built a devoted audience through her poetry, television appearances and live shows.

More recently, viewers may have spotted her on Channel 5’s The Cotswolds, as well as This Morning, Would I Lie to You?, Countdown and various Alan Titchmarsh programmes.

For anyone who has laughed at a Pam Ayres poem only to find themselves unexpectedly moved by it, this promises to be a particularly special evening. Doggedly Onward is a portrait of a life filled with laughter, love, mistakes, memories and the determination to keep going.

Tickets cost £34 per person.

For further information and bookings, visit cornexchangenew.com/events/pam-ayres-doggedly-onward.

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